Banjo.



PATENTED JUNE 19, 1906.

F. J BACON.

BANJO.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.22. 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BANJO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19, 1906.

Application filed August 22, 1905. Serial No. 275.319.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, FREDERICK J. BACON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banjos, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to certain improvements in the construction of banjos or other similar musical instruments whereby a more lasting tone is produced and the quality of same improved.

The principal objection to the banjo resides in the fact that the tones are of short duration and that they therefore have a sharp staccato uality which is objectionable.

The ob ect of this invention is to overcome this objection by providing the rim with a peculiarly-constructed annular chamber within which the partly-confined air can vibrate in harmony with the strings and cooperate therewith to produce a strong and resonant tone.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of constructionof the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a banjo constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of same with the head removed. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the banjo.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the outer rim of the banjo, which is connected to the neck 2 in any suitable manner and is rabbeted around its upper edge at 3 for the reception of a metallic ring or band 4. The inner rim 5 is located Within the outer rim and spaced therefrom, so as to form a sounding-chamber 6, within which the partly-confined air can vibrate. The lower portions of the outer rim 1 and inner rim 5 are connected by a wall 7, which is provided with openings for the escape of the sound, said openings preferably being in the form of scrolls to produce an ornamental appearance. The upper portion of the band 4 is bent inwardly and downwardly to form a flange 8, which is situated directly over the sound-chamber 6 and which is spaced from the inner rim 5, thereby leaving an annular opening 9, through which the sound can pass out from the sound-chamber 6. A head 10 of the conventional type is stretched over the band 4 and held in positionby a tightening-ring 11. The usual hookbolts 12 are employed to cooperate with the tightening-ring 11 in order to stretch the membrane to the desired degree of tension. It will thus be understood that when the strings are caused to vibrate the air within the soundin '-chamber 6 will vibrate in unison therevvit and reinforce and prolong the sound, thereby producing a full and resonant tone. The sound-waves emanate from the sounding-chamber 6 through the annular opening 9 and are concentrated at the center of the head, whence they spread and produce a rich and full tone. Owing to this action of the sounding-chamber, the tones are prolonged and the staccato quality very greatly modified.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 'A banjo provided with a head comprising an inner annular rim, an outer annular rim spaced therefrom, a bottom connecting portion between the said two rims and provided with sound-outlet openings formed there through, the aforesaid parts constituting a sound-chamber, a metallic band secured to said outer rim and having an inner metallic flange extending toward the inner rim, but spaced therefrom and with its edge out of contact with any part, wherebyit may freely vibrate, said flange extending also downwardly toward the openings in the connecting portion between the two rims whereby it will direct the sound emanating from the metallic flange down through the said openings in the bottom of the sound-chamber, and a membrane stretched over said band.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

F. STANLEY BAooN. THOMAS J. SrnLLAN 

